This is a salute to SGT. Michael Watson, U.S. Army from the Chattanooga, TN punk band The Unsatisfied.

They write:
We received a message a few months ago from Sgt. Watson inquiring if we could send him some music to keep he and the rest of the 18th Infantry pumped up. He said they had a hard time getting good music in Iraq. We sent them a box of goodies. They even put our stickers on a few of their gun trucks. We felt an instant brotherhood with Sgt. Watson and the 18th Infantry. We are very happy to report that they will return to Fort Riley, KS soon.

Note: Why "love and blood?" The band says, "That's what we put into our music! All of our Luv 'n' all of our Blood!"

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Army • Salute to Troops

This is a salute from Ana Tegtmeyer to her husband Chief Warrant Officer Mark Tegtmeyer, U.S. Army. Ana writes:

Hi Robin,
I would like to send this salute to my wonderful husband CW2 Mark Tegtmeyer. We are very proud and grateful for everything he has done and all of the sacrifices he has made to keep our family and our country safe. He is a fantastic husband, father, soldier and a true hero in our hearts.

Love,
Ana, Mark Henry, and Jacob

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Army • Salute to Troops

We were thrilled to be a part of a special surprise this morning for Sergeant 1st Class Casandra Sanders.

Sgt. Sanders is one of the 70,000 American service members who are single parents. Her two daughters Kiera and Jade have already been away from their mom during a deployment to Kuwait in 2005. Now the family is facing a second deployment, possibly to Afghanistan next year... so in order to make sure they get as much together-time as possible before that happens we teamed up with Operation G.I. Jane, an organization that provides support for single moms who serve in the military.

Thanks to Operation G. I. Jane, Sgt. Sanders and her two daughters will be "deploying" together to a luxury hotel for three nights of indulgence. But wait, there's more! Wait till you see Kiera and Jade's reaction to ANOTHER surprise... an iPod Touch for each! Priceless!

With a full 5 percent of American Military raising a family in a single parent home, military supports groups can be vital resources. For example, Operation G.I. Jane helps to provide communication between deployed parents and their children, airfare for much-needed visits home, necessities kits for both mother and child, and even career transition help.

If you are a single mom in the military or if you'd like to lend a helping hand to single moms who serve, visit Operation-GIJane.org.

Single military dads, and military families in general can visit the U.S. Department of Defense Military Family Support page to find resources as well.

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Air Force • Army • Coast Guard • Marine Corps • Navy • Salute to Troops

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Air Force • Army • Coast Guard • Marine Corps • Navy • Salute to Troops

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Army • Homecoming • Salute to Troops • Welcome Home

Talk about putting your music where your mouth is. Little Big Town played for the Troops in Afghanistan. So glad to have them on the set to salute the troops.

You can see more of our interview with Little Big Town right here.

Learn more about their participation in Drive For The Music... an initiative to drum up support for local music programs.

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Air Force • Army • Coast Guard • Marine Corps • Navy • Salute to Troops

Thanks to Bert Weiss for taking time away from HIS morning radio show, "The Bert Show," (heard in Atlanta, Nashville, Indianapolis & thebertshow.com) to sit down on OUR morning show and tell us about this great thing you can do right now to say thanks to a military man or woman serving overseas this holiday season.

If you'd like to take part in "The Big Thank You" here are the guidelines (or visit thebertshow.com for full details):

LETTER FORMAT:
Each letter should be heartfelt, handwritten, original, and free of any political statements. The purpose of the letter is to express thanks to the military personnel currently deployed outside the United States. We reserve the right to eliminate those messages that are political in nature and do not reflect a positive message in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Those letters will be destroyed.

All letters must be on 8.5” x 11” paper or smaller. Do not use glue, tape, staples, cardboard, glitter or otherwise attach anything to the paper. Decorate using crayons, pencil, etc. Use both sides if you like, but use one page per letter only. Do not send cards or photographs. Feel free to include your mailing and email address, and you may get a response. Individual letters should not be sealed in envelopes.

Do not send anything except letters. We cannot accept donations of any kind, and they should not be included or attached to letters.

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
The Bert Show’s Big Thank You
780 Johnson Ferry Road NE
Fifth Floor
Atlanta, GA 30342

There are other drop off and mail-in locations as well... visit thebertshow.com for all that informaTion.

Filed under: Air Force • Army • Coast Guard • Marine Corps • Navy • Salute to Troops

This is a salute from Joslynne English to her husband Specialist Daniel English.

Joslynne writes:
I just want to say that I am so proud of my husband for serving our country and fighting for our freedom in Iraq!! We have been married for almost 4 months now and he is the greatest man that I know. I just want to say that he is my everything and I miss him so much and I can’t wait to have him home soon!! Be safe and stay strong!! I love you Daniel.

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Army • Salute to Troops

This is a salute from singer/actor Tyrese Gibson. We caught up with Tyrese at the BET Hip Hop Awards here in Atlanta last weekend.

Tyrese plays USAF Chief Master Sergeant Robert Epps in the “Transformers” films.

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Air Force • Army • Coast Guard • Marine Corps • Navy • Salute to Troops

This is a homecoming Salute to Troops with Savannah Whalen and Army Private Mark Whalen.

Private First Class Mark Whalen was returning from Afghanistan for R&R. Robin talked to his wife Amanda before he arrived and she told us she was expecting. It was the first time he had seen his wife since they found out she was pregnant. We got a glimpse at their reunion and Robin got the chance to ask how they were feeling afterward.

Submit a salute of your own by visiting the special Morning Express with Robin Meade Salute To Troops assignment page at: iReport.com!

Filed under: Army • Homecoming • Salute to Troops • Welcome Home